Positivity rate is one of the half-a-dozen metrics used to determine the status of coronavirus in Illinois counties and a central Illinois lawmaker believes there are better metrics to decide on mitigation efforts. 

State Senator Chapin Rose believes the focus on positivity rate is very misleading, especially in parts of the state where COVID just is not prevelant. 

Sen. Rose believes the metrics that should be emphasized are hospitalizations and protecting vulnerable populations. Local health officials have been echoing this message for many months during the pandemic.

Sen. Rose is critical of the Governor's shift in focus in recent weeks as efforts have increased to bring back fall sports in light of many other states reversing earlier decisions. He believes we have passed giving hospitals and healthcare providers the capacity to deal with COVID and now we are focused on protecting people from themselves, something he calls an overreach.